Spiegel Sohmer is a firm of attorneys offering state-of-the-art expertise to a diversified business clientele seeking solutions that are innovative, concrete, and pragmatic. Our firm groups some forty five attorneys who concentrate principally within three broad specialties: business law (including Intellectual Property), tax law and litigation. Spiegel Sohmer has extensive experience representing companies at all stages of their life cycle, from start up through to exit, and also represents a wide array of investors: www.spiegelsohmer.com

Gold Sponsor

Richter is, above all, a financial consulting services firm offering strategic support and has been a recognized member of the business community since 1926. Richter entire team consists of more than 450 partners, experts, high-level professionals and administrative employees. Because of this collective expertise, our firm has an unrivalled reputation and has earned the respect of the business community.

National Bank helps home-grown businesses expand by offering them personalized service and banking solutions adapted to their needs. We strive to develop integrated, diversified and innovative business solutions that will meet the needs of your business at every phase of its existence. We offer a full range of financial services to individual clients, SMEs and large companies. Whatever your sector of activity, our team of experts will be able to advise you and assist you with every stage of your business growth. www.bnc.ca

Silver Sponsors

Futurpreneur Canada is the only national, non-proﬁt organization to provide ﬁnancing, mentoring, and support tools for every business stage to aspiring business owners and startup founders: www.futurpreneur.ca

Founded in 1904, Kruger Inc. is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibres, green and renewable energy and wines and spirits. The Company is also a leader in paper and paperboard recycling in North America. Kruger operates facilities in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador and the United States. (www.kruger.com)

Community Partners

The National Angel Capital Organization (NACO) accelerates a thriving, early-stage investing ecosystem in Canada by connecting individuals, groups, and other partners that support Angel-stage investing. NACO provides intelligence, tools and resources for its members; facilitates key connections across networks, borders and industries; and helps to inform policy affecting the Angel asset-class.

Anges Québec’s mission is to help its angel investors make profitable investments in innovative companies in a wide range of industries and in all regions of Quebec. To this end, Anges Québec identifies the best entrepreneurs and business projects and supports the Anges Québec members who finance them.

Noticias Montrealis a Spanish-language media based in Montreal and founded by a group of immigrant journalists. Its main goal is to provide the latest news, information and features about Montreal, Quebec, Canada. NM wants to offer a helping hand in the immigration and integration process of the numerous newcomers as well as promoting the Spanish language.

La Gare is a collaborative workspace. A place to work, connect and learn in the heart of the Mile End.

Joanna Lord Selected as a Top Startup Mentor of 2012

Founder Institute Mentors provide the support, feedback, and guidance that helped our early-stage founders launch over 800 businesses since the Institute was founded in 2009. When a founder is in need they come to the rescue... sort of like Startup Superheroes.

Today, we are excited to announce the winner of the "Best Female Mentor" Award:

Joanna Lord is the CMO at BigDoor Media Inc. Previously, she was VP of Growth Marketing at SEOmoz.org, a leading SEO software company out of Seattle, WA. At SEOmoz she focused on the lifecycle marketing efforts for Moz's 22,000 member customer base and 300,000+ member community. She is also a well-known social media enthusiast and frequent conference speaker. Her diverse experience in data analysis, performance marketing, inbound marketing and retention programs enables her to provide tactical strategies that work.

Congratulations Joanna!

The 2012 Startup Mentor Awards will be handed out at the Founder Showcase event, on Wednesday, July 17th, 2013. In addition to the award ceremony, the event will feature a series of early-stage startup workshops, led by Phil Libin (CEO of Evernote),Nir Eyal (Acclaimed Author and Speaker), and Joe Abraham (CEO & Founder, BOSI Global), as well as a pitch competition between six promising companies. We hope you will join us!

The Founder Institute is the world's largest entrepreneur training and startup launch program, helping aspiring founders across the globe build enduring technology companies. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 50 countries, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 1,550 companies in 6 years. The company's mission is to "Globalize Silicon Valley" and build sustainable startup ecosystems that will create one million new jobs worldwide.